Nvidia GRID 2.0 launch boosts virtualised graphics workflows
Nearly a dozen leading companies are completing trials of the Nvidia GRID 2.0 beta, with major server vendors, including Cisco, Dell, HP and Lenovo, qualifying the GRID solution to run on 125 server models, including new blade servers. Nvidia has also worked closely with Citrix and VMware to bring a rich graphics experience to end-users on virtualisation platforms.
Available worldwide starting 15 September, GRID 2.0 allows users to work from almost anywhere without delays in downloading files, increasing their productivity. IT departments can equip workers with instant access to powerful applications, improving resource allocation. Data can also be stored more securely by residing in a central server rather than individual systems.
There are key benefits to the content creation industry, namely the ability to allow up to 128 users per server, doubling the capacity of the previous version. No longer limited to the Windows operating system, Nividia GRID 2.0 will also enable companies in industries that depend on Linux applications and workflows, such as VFX, to take advantage of graphics-accelerated virtualisation
Using the latest version of Nvidia's Maxwell GPU architecture, GRID 2.0 delivers twice the application performance as before, exceeding the performance of many native clients, according to the company. Companies can now also run GRID-enabled virtual desktops on blade servers, not simply rack servers, from leading blade server providers.
Neil MacDonald, vice president and general manager, HP BladeSystem, said, "With GRID 2.0 we can provide our customers a powerful, secure and reliable blade server configuration, giving them more options to virtualise all their graphics-accelerated workflows. GRID technology allows HP to provide the highest density virtualised graphics offering on the market today so that our customers easily scale to accommodate the highest possible number of users."
"In 2013, Citrix and NVIDIA released the first joint vGPU solution to enable multiple virtual desktops to share a single GPU and deliver an uncompromised experience that scales easily," said Calvin Hsu, vice president, product marketing, Windows App Delivery, Citrix. "NVIDIA GRID 2.0 with Citrix XenApp and XenDesktop app and desktop delivery now allows more users to take advantage of rich applications on any device."
You can experience Nividia GRID for yourself through the NVIDIA GRID Test Drive. This offers instant access to Nividia GRID vGPU acceleration on a Windows desktop with 2D and 3D applications, such as AutoCAD and SolidWorks.